California Poppy Reserve

A blanket of bright orange covers the grasslands near Lancaster, Los Angeles County, during May and April. Thousands of spectators annually come to see this seasonal display of California’s official state flower (Eschscholzia californica or California Poppy) in the 1,781 acres of protected land called the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. With eight miles of trails, the park is designed to let visitors roam through the rolling hills to experience the floral landscape from all angles. The poppies bloom alongside other flowers that infuse speckles of yellow and lavender. Park authorities advise everyone to stay on the trails to preserve the natural habitat and ecosystem, including the local variety of rattlesnakes and scorpions meandering throughout the area.

When we first came across photography by Kaija Straumanis, we couldn’t help but scratch our heads in wonder. “Who, what, how, and ouch” were popular reactions among our team. We later learned that we weren’t alone. Nearly 3 million people had similar responses — making Kaija’s photography a viral sensation.

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Today we feature and excerpt from The Photographic Journal's interview with Eduardo Torres, whose elegant portraits highlight his subject's subtle expressions and attributes to potent effect.

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